Well,
I am finally completed typing our story. I can’t believe how long it has taken
me. It was very pleasurable to go back and read about our experience in
Ukraine. Every day that goes by, the memories become more precious to me.
Natalie is doing so wonderfully!

She truly is our Ukrainian angel!

She has
adjusted so well to her new life in America. She is not quiet or shy anymore.
She is very outgoing and cheerful. She still makes the cutest faces and smiles
so beautifully. She is witty, smart, fun, playful and full of energy every day.
She has a great attitude towards life and is a daredevil! She is not afraid of
too many things. She is learning so much English every day!

She is very
independent and confident.

The
other day, she did the funniest thing (July 12, 2003). Our neighbor down the
road (Kathy Pickert) cleaned out her youngest daughters clothes and passed them
on to us. Natalie was so thrilled! She went through the basket and immediately
picked out the winter hat, gloves and snow boots. Natalie put them on (let me
remind you that the temperature was pushing 100 degrees outside). She told me
that she wanted it to snow! I tried to explain to her that it is not going to
snow today. She asked me in Russian “zaftra?” (tomorrow?) I told her “many many
zaftra’s from now!”

Always a trooper

Natalie kept asking for snow on a 100 degree day

This
summer Natalie has been introduced to the swimming pool. She is a fish! She
jumps in, goes under water, kicks, splashes and never wants to get out of the
water! She looks so natural in the water! It is hard to believe that the first
bath experience was such an awful one!

Water rat and no fear!

Amanda
and Alex adore her too! Alex said "It’s hard to imagine our life without her!”

She fits in so well. Amanda loves sharing rooms with her and loves to take her
shopping.

Her softball team even made up a cheer with Natalie’s cute Russian
words!

So
far, in 3 months’ time, Natalie has done so many things for the 1st
time!

*Going swimming-even in the deep end by herself

*Riding in a car seat, (we did not see one car seat in Ukraine)

*Watching fireworks on her first “Independence Day,” after a while she
hid under the blanket, she wanted them to be over.

*Going to see “Finding Nemo” at the movies

*Watching tons of baseball and softball games-what a trooper

*Meeting new friends

*Having her own toys and clothes

*Going shopping the first time to “Super Wal-Mart” with Mom and Dad! Now
when we go shopping she says “no shopping.”